Pret A Manger raises fresh Brexit fears for the industry

Pret A Manger’s human resources department has revealed its concern over Brexit after revealing only 1 in 50 job applicants are British and questioned whether British citizens want to work in the industry.

Pret’s director of human resources told a government committee that the brand could face a “major staffing crisis” after remarking “I would say that one in 50 people that apply to our company to work is British”.

Andrea Wareham was reported as saying: “It really is a case of do people want to work in our industry? We are not seen always as a desirable place to work and I think that’s the trick.”

Staff at the popular sandwich chain are largely made up of international people with 65% of those being EU citizens, Wareham told the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, it was reported in The Evening Standard.

Wareham expressed concern over being unable to fill vacancies if Brexit means EU citizens are not able to move to the UK for work.

Pret, which operates more than 250 stores in the country, doubts that UK citizens would apply to work at the chain even if it was able to offer higher wages.

Brexit Secretary David Davis was previously quoted saying the UK cannot “suddenly shut” its doors because of the reliance of the hospitality and social care industries on migrants.